5 Reasons Having a Website as an Author is a Good Idea

You have either written a book and are in the process of publishing it or want to. If you haven't read my post on Branding, I recommend it. You can find it here.

One of the steps I mention is building a platform. A platform is a set of virtual or in-person tools to make you and your work visible and give you a place to be found. Part of a platform is having a website.

Some say that having a website is an outdated idea. That no one really looks at them anymore. That you only need your social media pages. I would like to share 5 reasons why I disagree.

1) Your website is your home base. 

Everything you want readers and others in the industry to know about you and your work should be on your website. This is the time for you to say: LOOK AT ME! In a classy, professional and modest way of course, but you know what I mean. 

2) You can share your website with everyone you meet.

I have a custom license plate that has the word "books" on it. I've had many people ask me about it over the years. Guess where I send them to? My website. The first thing they see on my website: my books. Other authors at a conference, the agent I met in person, the cover artist I introduced myself to...sent them all to my website. It's like a virtual business handshake. 

3) You can sell directly from your website. 

I have made every image on my author website clickable. Where does it lead to? My Amazon author page or a buy link for that specific book. People are busy. They don't want to click ten or even three times to find out how to buy your books. A website is a jump right to a sale. My books can be found here by the way. See?!

4) Having a website makes you appear more professional.

It's great to have a ton of social media pages and critical to have an author page on Amazon (I'll talk about that in a future post), but having a website tells industry professionals that you are organized, committed and thorough. It sends a message that you see this author thing as a career, not a hobby. 

5) Creating a website is easy and can even be free.

No excuses. They have tons of website creator websites out there now. Wordpress, Wix, Web Pro Designs, etc. They get easier every day. Click, type, save. Many of them are either free or cost very little. If you are still not comfortable there are people out there that will gladly create them for you (Book Core Marketing included). Just Google: free website creator to get started.

Homepage of my author website. 
I hope you see now the many ways a website can help you build your brand, be an essential part of your business and worth your investment of time and energy. 

Remember, try not to get overwhelmed, break up your author business into achievable and practical steps. Keep following this blog to see more about the publishing process and the tools you need to get your hard work published. Thank you for reading. 


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